EDGEFIELD, S.C.-(Ammoland.com)- At a recent ceremony held at the Wisconsin Department Natural Resources central office in Madison, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the DNR announced a new, co-funded R3 – Recruitment, Reactivation and Retention Coordinator – position to bolster hunting participation across the state.

The new position will work with various partnering organizations to coordinate and implement hunter recruitment outreach events in Wisconsin.

“The NWTF and its 11,530 members and volunteers across the state are excited to partner with the Department of Natural Resources to increase the number of hunters in Wisconsin,” said Dave Mahlke, NWTF senior vice president of volunteer relations and fundraising. “Our efforts are extremely important because more than 80 percent of conservation funding on the state level comes from the purchase of licenses and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. If hunting participation increases, funding for conservation will follow.”

R3 efforts remain a focus as the NWTF works to complete the Save the Hunt. goal of recruiting 1.5 million hunters nationwide and 35,000 in Wisconsin.

“Together, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the DNR are taking this step to expand our capacity to serve existing and potential participants in hunting, angling, trapping, and the shooting sports,” said DNR Deputy Secretary Kurt Thiede. “Wisconsin is home to veteran anglers and hunters and a new generation who will learn how to harvest and to catch their own food. This new position will help bring this exciting world to new participants and remind our lapsed hunters and anglers what they are missing.”

About the National Wild Turkey Federation:

When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.5 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit an historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers, professional staff and committed partners, the NWTF has facilitated the investment of $488 million in wildlife conservation and the preservation of North America’s hunting heritage. The NWTF has improved more than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat and introduce 100,000 people to the outdoors each year. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting.